GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah men's basketball team dropped a 76-64 decision to the visiting Widener Pride on Monday night. Messiah held a 36-22 lead with five minutes and change remaining in the first-half, but the Pride closed out the opening half on a sizable, 15-0 run, and continued that momentum into the second-half to defeat the Falcons.

Colin Sareyka led Messiah with 19 points, including 17 first-half points, while EJ Porter (15 points) and Josh Darville (10) joined him in double-figures.

The Falcons next take the floor on Wednesday night when they travel to Hood College to take on the Blazers at 8:00 p.m.

The Falcons Heat Up
Colin Sareyka championed a Messiah run that turned a 16-15 Widener lead into a 36-22 Falcons' advantage with nine points. Sareyka scored seven-straight points at the end of a 20-7 run to quickly bump the Messiah lead to 14 points with 5:24 remaining in the half.

Sareyka ended the half with a game-high 17 points.

The run was more than just Sareyka, EJ Porter and Matt Glogowski each contributed five points with a three and a layup in the early portions of the streak.

Pride Push
Sareyka's layup with 5:24 remaining in the half gave Messiah a 14-point lead, but those were the last points the Falcons would collect before the break. The Pride controlled the remainder of the period, going on a 15-0 run that gave Widener a 37-36 lead heading into the half. During the run, the Pride made three three-pointers, while missing just one shot and not committing any turnovers.

Taking the Lead Back
Matt Glogowski wasted little time finishing a layup on the opening possession of the second-half to give Messiah the lead back at 38-37. Messiah quickly turned that layup into a swift 7-0 run over the next 90 seconds, opening up a six-point lead. EJ Porter knocked down a three after a steal from Sareyka and Zach McDonough put through a layup to bump the Falcons' advantage to 43-37, but Widener came down and hit a trey to cut the lead in half.

Another Widener Run
Just as they did at the end of the first-half, Widener would go on another extended run in the early portion of the second-half. Trailing 46-40, Widener went on a 15-4 run to flip the advantage and take a 55-50 lead with 11:13 remaining in the half.

Messiah chipped away at the lead, getting the Pride lead down to as few as three at 57-54 after a pair of free throws from Will Young IV. That was as close as the Falcons would get in the final 10 minutes as Widener kept their foot on the gas down the stretch.

Following a layup from Ryan McMahon with just over four minutes remaining, Widener pushed their lead to 68-57. Despite Messiah's best efforts down the stretch, the Pride made their free throws and pulled away late to claim the 76-64 victory.

What's Up Next
Messiah falls to 7-11 overall and 3-6 in the MAC Commonwealth with just seven games remaining in the conference season. The Falcons will now travel to Hood College to take on the Blazers at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday night. Messiah fell 81-68 against the Blazers back on Dec. 5 in Hitchcock Arena.